RUDDERLESS Wrexham are on the rocks. After their fifth consecutive defeat the salvage work begins today to find a new manager.

A shortlist of applicants is being drawn up for directors to consider as they search for someone to succeed Brian Flynn in time for Wrexham's next game - against Queen's Park Rangers at The Racecourse on October 13.

Speculation is linking some of Wales' biggest names with the job. Goalkeeper Neville Southall, Wales's most capped player, and former Welsh skippers Kevin Ratcliffe and Barry Horne are in the frame.

Radcliffe's contract at Shrewsbury Town may rule him out because Wrexham don't want to get embroiled in compensation, but Horne, currently chairman of the players' union, is definitely in with a shout.

One man who isn't, and doesn't want to be, is Joey Jones, whose two-match role as caretaker manager ended with this setback on Saturday.

Jones said, "I don't want the job. I have said that all along, but I'll stay and take training until they appoint someone."

Jones has not made up his mind about staying at the club, though fans hope the new man will keep him on. But even someone with Jones's passion and indomitable spirit can't open the parachute to help free-falling Wrexham.

They are now second from bottom of Division Two and it's going to take an almighty effort with the current squad of players to stave off relegation.

But hope springs eternal and no-one epitomises that more than goalkeeper Kristian Rogers. He made outstanding saves to keep Wrexham in the hunt, and it was

his defiance that stirred emotions in another pitifully small crowd of just over 2,600.

Hero Rogers at times found himself standing alone as Borough battered through Wrexham's crumbling resistance.

Jones's game plan was more about not losing than winning in a bid to stop the rot. It worked for 45 minutes, but fell apart early in the second half when Jimmy Bullard blasted home a magnificent 25-yarder.

But fair play to Wrexham, they refused to surrender. Darren Ferguson was only just too high with one of his speciality free-kicks, and then the energetic Craig Faulconbridge had a shot blocked before Robin Gibson replaced the limping Ferguson.

Superman Rogers denied Leon McKenzie and then brought the house down with a brilliant save, aided by the woodwork, from

Marc Joseph's header. Rogers then denied McKenzie again and his heroics inspired supporters.

Wrexham's reward was an equaliser by top scorer Faulcon-bridge after goalkeeper Mark Tyler dropped the ball under Gibson's robust challenge.

But the revival didn't last long, and danger-man McKenzie turned in Bullard's corner four minutes later to push Wrexham deeper into the abyss.